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CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YOUK, 



December Srd, 1875. 



NEW YORK : 

H. A. ROST, Steam Book and Job Printer, 3 North William Street. 



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,^' BANaUET 



German Republican Central Committee 

OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK, 
December 3rd, 1875. 



The German Republican Central Committee of the City of New York met 
for the first time, during the campaign for free speech — free soil — free men and 
Fremont. It was formed chiefly by those Gemian refugees, Avho — in 1848-49 
— defeated in their brave strug'gle for lil)erty in their native countr}-, transferred 
their allegiance to the American Republic. 

By nature as well as by education, implacable enemies of oppression in 
every shape, they enrolled themselves in the ranks of the party opposed to 
slavery in this country. And there is little doubt that the bulk of the German 
immigrants would have joined the Republican party, had they not been misled 
by the name ''Democracy'' borne by the opposing party, which in their German 
homes is synonymous with liberty and selfgovernment. 

It is the object of the Gennan Republican Committee, thus called into 
existence to recall their countrymen from the ranks of the false to the tnie 
democratic party, and to afford to such of them as were unable to acquire a 
knowledge of the English language on account of their arrival in this country 
at a period of life when the struggle for existence engrossed their time and all 
their efforts, facilities to take part in political discussions in their native tongue. 

The Gennan Republican Central Committee has thus, through the agency 
of its thoroughly disciplined district associations, contributed largely to the 
success of the Republican party. Though others faltered, it never swerved 
from its loyalty; not even when leaders, elated at their success, ignored its 
claims and refused to give it credit for its share in the results attained. 

To prove that no such views prevailed with the present leaders, but that 
on the contrary its services were duly appreciated, the German Republican 
Central Committee in the fall of 1875 demanded from the State Committee some 
suitable ofKcial recognition. 

This request was cheerfully acceded to, and Hon. A. B. Cornell, the dis- 
tinguished chairman of the State Committee, announced to our representatives, 



that the State Committee had agi-eed to recommend to futm-e State Conventions, 
the appointment of tlie president of the Gemian EepuhEcan Central Committee, 
as a member ex officio of said State Committee, and also to m-ge, that the said 
president and chaimian of the Gennan Executive Committee should be 
appointed members ex officio of the regular Republican County Committee. 

In recognition of that result and to celebrate the great victories of ] 875 
in Ohio, Pennsylvania and in om- city — following so quickly on the unparalleled 
defeats of the pre\'iou8 year, the Gennan- American republicans resolved on 
holding the banquet, the proceedings of which are recorded in the following 
pages. 

The banquet was held at Arion Hall, St. Marks Place, on the 3rd day of 
December 1875, under the auspices of the German Republican Central Com- 
mittee of the County of New York, whose officers were as follows: 

President : A. J. Dittenhoefer. 

Chainnan of the Executive Committee : MoRRlS Friedsam. 

Secretaries : Leopold Weil and Charles J. Guntner. 

Special Committee of Arrangements for the Banquet: 

Hennann Cantor, Chainnan, Otto Stropp, 

Dr. Louis Naumann, Andrew A. Scheidler, 

Carl Schwedler, John V. Mayer, 

Dr. Hennann Muhr. 

The following guests were invited, all of whom attended, excepting those 
from whom the letters hereinafter printed, were received : 

Hon. Roseoe Conkling, Speaker Husted, 

Hon. Hugh J. Hastings, Senator Baaden, 

Governor Salomon, Mayor Schroeder, 

• Alderman Billings, Hon. Jacob M. Patterson, jr., 

Alderman Hess, General J. C. Pinckney, 

Hon. Thos. Mui-phy, Hon. Isaac H. Bailey, 
Postmaster Thos. L. James, Police Comm'r Disbecker, 

Hon. Wm. A. Darling, Hon. A. B. Cornell, 

Collector Arthur, Suixeyor Sharpe, 

Judge Gildersleeve, Judge Goepp, 

U. S. Atty. Bliss, Dist. Atty. Phelps, 

Sun-ogate Van Schaick, Recorder Hackett, 

Governor Morgan, Frederick Kuehne, 

Hon. A. H. Laffin, Comissioner Stiner, 

Col. Spencer, Gilbert J. Hunter, 
Hon. Salem H. Wales. 

The banquet hall was richly decorated in a manner worthy of the cause 
and of the guests. A profusion of light showed to advantage the rich 



evergTOons oncircling the walls. The flaii-s oi" tho United States were gracefully 
intertwined with the colors of the Gennan Empire, and the busts of the first, 
the martyr and tho pi'esent President were encircled in living flowers. 

The guests were received by the conmiittee and after introduction to the 
president, proceeded at 8 P.M. to the music of a brilliant march, composed for the 
occasion, to the banquet hall, where in the course of the evening the following 
addresses were delivered in answer to the regular toasts announced by the 
president. 

The president, Judge Dittenhoefer, before reading the first toast, 
addressed the company as follows: 

''Gentlemen : — We have assembled this evening to congratulate eacli other 
on the overthrow of Tammany Hall — that its power has been Ijroken, that its 
prestige of invincibility has been destroyed. For the first time in many years 
its entire county ticket, though composed of excellent men, was swept away by 
the tide, and to add to the humiliation of this defeat, those of our candidates, at 
whom its severest fii'e was aimed, were triumphant even above their colleagues. 
The people, tired and disgusted with the Tammany organization, detennined to 
throw off the incul)us, in spite of pamphlets which they laid aside for reading 
till after the elections, took up the Recorder as if on puqjose to hack it to 
pieces. And thoroughly and completely was the joT) done. Dollymount was 
repeated on the 2nd of November in our city, when Gildersleeve and Hackett 
with the rest of the team riddled the Tammany standard. 

It is abnost incredible that in this hot-bed of Tammany Democracy, 
Tammany Hall should have been so thoroughly routed — horse, foot and 
cbagoons. And to that feeling of incredulity the loss of our State ticket is 
owing ; for had our country friends believed that it was possible for us to break 
down for them, as we did the Tammany majorities, they would have piled up 
the Republican majorities for us. 

Now we have noticed with unfeigned pleasure, that everywhere, even by 
those least friendly, acknowledgement is made that the honor of and credit for 
this splendid triumph, as also for the glorious victories in the West and in the 
Key Stone State, were preenainently due to the German voters, who inspired 
with an enthusiastic zeal for good government, sound financial principles and 
with a deteiTnined hostility to the t}Tanny of the one man power, rallied to the 
support of our candidates. 

In view of these conceded facts, the German Republican Central 
Committee representing over 10,000 voters of Gennan extraction, detennined 
to have this celebration and resolved to invite you to join them in their 
festi\'ities. 

Now in bidding you one and all, in the name of that Committee over 
which I have the honor to preside, a cordial welcome to this hall, I am sure I 
will be pardoned for saying to you, invited guests, that what was accomplished 
at our last election, can and will be accomplished again and again, if care is 
only taken not to drive away from our party that large Gennan vote, composing 
as it does, the only element of the foreign population from which recruits can be 
drawn to om- ranks — a factor too important to be overlooked in making 
political combinations. 

It is the office of the Gennan Republican Central Committee to draw in 
and to enroll these recniits — an office which cannot be discharged by any other 
organization in the party. It secures for om* party the votes of those GeiTnans 



wliose aiTival in this country generally occurs at that period of life, when the 
struggle for existence prevents them from gaining enough familiarity with 
English to understand political discussions in that language ; a disability that 
keeps them away from the regular District associations, frequently away from 
the polls, and often exposes them to the danger of voting through misrepresent- 
ation for candidates opposed to their Repuhlican ideas. And its field of 
usefulness is enlarged hy the accession of those Germans, who, though familiar 
with the English language, still prefer to take part in deliberations held in a 
tongue and in a manner endeared to them by habit and by association. This 
peculiarity of the Gemian-Americans may perhaps be ol)jected to or even 
complained of by some of our friends ; but it exists nevertheless and it certainly 
becomes the duty of wise leadership to use it in accomplishing desired results. 
That stage in the leadership of our party I am happy to announce has at last 
been reached. 

The action of the State Committee, which through its distinguished 
chainnan has assiu'ed us that the Gennan Republican Central Committee shall 
in the future receive that recognition its sei^vices desei-ve, and the presence of so 
many distinguished leaders and members of om- party at a Gennan Republican 
banquet attest the truth of the announcement I have just made. Gentlemen, 
I affain thank you one and all for voiu' attendance here to-night." 

The jn-esident then announced the first regular toast: "The President of 
the United States," and called upon General Sharpe, distingiushed in the 
military as well as in the civil service- — a dashing soldier and brilliant orator, 
to respond. 

The general was most enthusiastically received and after some 
facetious remarks, based upon the order of speaking between the 
courses of the banquet, he said that he would pledge himself to be present 
at every such celebration as the present one. When the Gemians entwined 
the Stripes and Stars with their fatherland's flag they proved that, while they 
were Germans by remembrance, they were Americans in heart and in action 
and they had in every way proved their earnestness in the cause of American 
republicanism. He knew that the success in Ohio and New York was very 
largely due to the efforts of the Germans. The American Republicans 
acknowledged it, and would always recognize it. He was well aware, too, that 
they had never had more splendid unity among the clubs and associations, and 
that they had all splendidly borne their part, and so had the journals of the 
Gennan Republican Party fought a great fight, but he must make mention of 
the most conspicuous of all the giants of the press. Was there ever a more 
magnificent fight than was fought in that great political straggle by the great 
front leader of journals against the head and heart of Tammany Hall. He 
refened to the "New York Times". (Ai)plause). He might say also, that among 
individual contributions to the victory, to no one man was the success of the 
canvass more justly due than to that high-spirited, honest, and energetic man 
and organizer. Gen. Chester A. Arthur. (Applause.) Take it all in all, it 
was a fight in which every man had borne his part like a man, and of which 
he might feel proud. It has been the fortune of Gen. Grant to be put in the 
most conspicuous position in this countr}^ at the most terrible crisis of the 
nation's history. One of the most tenible wars the world ever saw, found him 
at its close the most prominent figure which history could make. The first 
following presidential year found him the most conspicuous figure among the 
nation's statesmen. (Applause.) Having led armies beside which Washington's 
armies could be multiplied a hundred-fold, and having reached the highest rank 



among' tlie nation's statesmen, and having now, in this, the third year of the 
second tenn of his administration, seen the completion of ttie measures for tlie 
restoration of peace and harmony to the Union; having seen all this, I can tell 
you, said the speaker — and I know what I am saying — that Gen. Grant has but 
one thing more, one other desire to be gratified, to make the cup of his glory 
full. It is no personal hope or desire — he has but a single thought ; I know 
it myself, and that is that his own administration may be succeeded by a 
republican administration. A foreigner has undertaken to make a picture of 
the greatest characters forming a triumvirate in Ameri(;an history, and when his 
work is completed, future ages will point with ])ride to that triumvirate, and will 
mention the names of Washingtcm, Lincoln and Grant. (Applause.) 

On the conclusion of this address, the president stated, that the next 
toast : "Our party", would be responded to by the War-Governor of Wisconsin, 
Mr. Salomon, who delivered a most eloquent and elaborate address, which was 
continually inteiTupted by enthusiastic applause. 

Hon. Salem H. Wales, the ])resident of the Dock Department, presented 
to the Assembly by the president as "Our Prince of Wales", replied to the toast 
''The City of New York", as follows: 

" It was not on your programme of the evening, that I should say anything', 
but I find myself forced into the service, to take the place of our absent friend 
the Hon. Benj. K. Phelps, who puts in the plausible excuse that he is detained 
by illness. — You ask me, Mr. chairman, whether I want to speak before or after 
the next course? My answer is that I want nothing-. I am like the boy in the 
class, who, when called to his examination, prepared himself to answer off hand 
and at once the exact question that oug'ht to come to him in the order of 
position. — The Teacher put this question to him : '' Well l)oy, what do you 
believe?" — the answer was, "I don't believe nothing." ''Well," says the 
teacher, "you believe in the II(dy Apostolic church, don't you ?" The answer 
was: "No, the boy that believes that, is at home sick with the measles." I am 
called upon to respond to your toast to the city of New York. I hope my 
friend Phelps, who was to answer to that, is not sick with the measles. New 
York City is a great sulyect, and perhaps tlie most eloquent remark I could 
make, would be to say nothing. But I can in the lang-uage of St. Paul, on one 
memorable occasion, declare that "I am the citizen of no mean city". In 
natural position, and in all that relates to trade and commerce. New York can 
partly claim to be the metropolis of the west'Mn hemisphere. All she now 
needs is to be g'overned wisely and well, that these advantag-es may not through 
neglect and misgovernment slip away from us, and we be left to that gradual 
decay which has marked the rise and fall of ancient commercial cities. We are 
here to-night to celebrate with the German Republicans the recent vict(n'ies in 
our municipal election. I am g'lad to jt)in in these festivities, and to mingle my 
congratulations with you, that the result has brought promise of good to our 
city. The officers chosen are generally men of ability and acknowledged 
integrity, and we can hope that tlie result will in the end not disappoint the just 
expectations of those who bore the front of the battles. The lesson taught by 
this election is, that the people will, when the emergency oflf'ers, take good care 
that no one man, or set of men shall arbitrarily decide who are to goveni them, 
that eacli individual voter will henceforth decide, without dictation or inter- 
ference, who he prefers in the administration of the city's estate. I wish here 
to state that 1 propose hei'eafter to cultivate a better acquaintance with the 



German voter. I like the Gennans better than they seemed to have liked me, y 
(laughter) and should it fall to my lot to nm again for Mayor even at a spring 
election, 1 do not intend that the Germans shall be ignorant of the fact that I 
am much in love with them. (Laughter.) I may not express ray admiration 
of the form of Government of the Gennan empire, but I do admire tliat stm-dy 
old monarch Kaiser Wilhelm, that old king, who could ride in his saddle day 
after day, cheering on the allied hosts, in the great conflict with a power defiant, 
and hitlierto almost invincible in arms, and who embodies in his policy the 
broadest ideas of religious freedom, is certainly a character not to be despised, 
but to be admired. I admire the veteran wamor Von Moltke — the great 
war minister Von Roon — the gallant soldier Prince Frederick (Charles, and last 
but not least "U user Fritz", whose record in the war gives promise that the 
succession will fall into the hands of one worthy to govern a great and noble 
people. Taking up the spirit of the reformation, the present dynasty of 
Germany is planting the seeds of hope and promise, which shall endure through 
the generations to come. 

Having thrice visited and travelled through the greater part of Germany, 
I have perhaps studied the character of your people more at home than in this 
country — I have found them brave, frugal and industrious — they bring with 
them those elements — and if every man, woman and child that comes to us adds 
a thousand dollars each to the wealth of the country at the moment of landing 
on our shores, how are we to estimate their worth and value to the nation, as 
they distribute themselves througliout om varied industries, and hand back to 
us the wealth of their labor and toil? They come not among us with the 
Communistic notion that the Government is bound to provide for their support, 
and it has often been a sm-prise to- me that so few Gennans have crossed the 
threshold of my office to seek public employment — seldom has such a thing 
ever occured. The German relies upon himself, and that alone constitutes for 
him a high value in a country like this, which opens so many avenues to reward 
patient industry. 

It has often occured to me that the Gennan has failed to assert his right 
to participate in the higher functions of Government. If I remember rightly, 
Carl 8churz is the only representative German who has ever occupied a place 
in the Senate, and although w'e may, and do regret that he left the Republican 
party, where I think he should have remained and worked as he could work, for 
all wholesome reforms. Still his record as a Senator was honorable, and he 
retired fi-om his high place without a stain upon his integrity. He did credit to 
his people. 

The German, from his love of liberty and high sense of justice is properly 
the ally of the Republican party, and I trust that this evening's banquet will 
result in bringing us closer together in our party relations." 

In response to the toast: ''Our guests," Hon. Isaac H. Bailey, the 
gallant champion of a forlorn hope in the last congressional canvass of the 
eleventh Congressional District, addressed the Assembly as follows : 

''Mr. Chairman: 
As I look around among your "guests" to-night, in whose behalf yoxi have 
invited me to respond, I am unable to find a single one on the platform, who 
has earned that proud title to distinction which "independent jom-nalism" confers 
only on men who have deserted their party and renounced their principles. As 
far as I can obsen-e there is not a man at this board who has ever risen so far 
above the monotonous common-place level of fidelity to the Republican cause, 
as to abandon and betray it. On the contrary, all of them have adhered to the 



organization steadfastly tlin>ng-li tho varied chances and changes of its twenty 
years existence — sharing its trinni[)lis with delight, beaiing its reverse with 
patience — never growing lukewarin from a fancy tliat they did not receive the 
C(msiderati()n due to them, never setting up their individnal will in hostility to 
the recognized experiments of the ])olicy of the organization. Now, if, as we 
are tanght in some quarters, it is a pro.f of hifty independence to be false to 
your order and of patriotism to sneak oft" to the enemy, there is not a soul here 
who can boast of these chiims to distinction. In earlier times, before political 
pei-fidy was deemed a virtue, such people were well enough perhaps, but now 
one cannot speak of them with commendation, scarcely apologetically without 
incuri-ing the imputation of being a ''thick and thin" partizan, a term of reproach 
which it is supposed to n^quire great courage to endure. 

I infer, as 1 have no doubt all of you have, from the observaticms of the 
gentleman who preceded me, (Mr. AVales) that he is so well satisfied with his 
last experiment as a candidate for municipal honors, that it would not require 
inordinate persuasiim to induce lain to try again. He has 'been pretty liberal in 
his suggestions about tlie distribution of tliese favors, but it is easy to see the 
cun-ent .in which his thouglits are running. I wish to comfort him with the 
assurance, that I have not the slightest inclination to enter the list as his 
competitor. My first, last and only experience in that line has wrought a 
radical cure. I can exclaim in the couplet of John Hay : 

''Betwixt me and you I've been there, 
And I'll not take any in mine." 

I have a great mind, Mr. Chairman, to avail myself of the latitude this 
toast gives me to indulge in the egotism of a retrospective glance at my ten 
days campaign, a year ago in the eleventh Congressional District. It was 
exciting while it lasted and disastrous in its result, but there were many features 
about it that were instructive to me, and may perchance be not unamusing to you. 

When I was nominated, I was assured that the District was Republican — 
cars'ed out expressly to be carried — regarded as hopeless by the democrats so 
much so that they found it hard to persuade any man to be a candidate. 
Relj-ing upon these flattering representations, I entered the lists; when I came 
to s'uiwey the field, I could'nt find any Republican grouud in it except that 
curiously shaped strip of teiTitory known as the eleventh Assembly District. It 
was difficult to compile a list of the voters because the district was new, and 
the polling places had been changed since the preceding election. 

Three d.ays after I was fairly in ibr it. I met my friend and neighbor 
Hon. Abram S. Hewitt, himself a candidate in an adjoining district, and he told 
me he had the figures and would give me a copy of them. We repaired to his 
house, and there'l made the exhilarating discovery that the democratic majority 
at the last state election was 2405! This was what that eccentric Liberal 
Republican Deputy-Sherifl" Mr. Lanigan would call a "honey-cooler"! How- 
ever it w^as too late then to recede, and there was nothing to be done but to 
" stand the hazard of the die". 

The first broad-side I encountered emanated from the "leading American 
newspaper" as it modestly describes itself. This my excellent and intimate 
friend Mr. Schultz, who with all his experiences had not then been cured of the 
hallucination that a newspaper which prates of its independence, will retract a 
misstatement, when it finds it has made one, wrote and i)ublished an answer to, 
denying such of the strictures of this veracious organ as he knew to be 
erroneous. Of course I knew this would be like flaunting a red rag before a 
mad bull, only making the animal more furious. However, the second tirade 
was relieved of its bratality by a liberal quotation from a letter, which I had 



8 

written eight months pre\aously, which expressed my \news concerning the 
revenue laws and their administration. I thoug-ht then, and still think, in spite 
of their authorship, that they embodied very sensible and practical ideas on a 
subject, about which New York was just at that time in one of its periodical fits 
of craziness. It bore no reference to any particular case or individual, but the 
independent editor, ever fertile in resomxes, garbled the document with an 
interpolation which met this emergency. The original contained no paragraph 
or line which I have since entertained the thought of disclaiming or qualifying. 

Being apprehensive that Mr. Schultz might take notice of this effusion as 
he had of the other, I made haste to write him a note, dissuading him from 
such a purpose, reminding him that he was at a fatal disadvantage in an 
encounter with such antagonists, as he would be obliged by his natural regard 
for tnith, to make his statements confonn to facts, whereas they were under no 
such restraining limitations. I was too late, however, for he had already 
dispatched his card to a friendly evening paper. I guess that incident dis- 
abused his mind of the notion that "independent" journalism was to be baulked 
of its humor by any sense of its obligation to obey the ninth commandment. 

One of the numerous imtruths with which this "independent" sheet 
abounded, was that the name of my old and honored fi-iend William E. Dodge, 
was used without his authority — the fact being that he had tendered me 
personally his hearty support within forty-eight hours after I was nominated. 
You can bear witness, Mr. Chainnan, because you were cognizant of the 
circumstance, that Mr. Dodge not only accepted the position of Vice-President 
of the ratification meeting, but being detained therefrom by illness, sent a 
special message explaining and regretting his enforced absence. 

Some well-meaning but superserviceable adherents of mine talked of 
publishing a damaging chapter in the record of my opponent. I heard of it 
and at once positively insisted that no such discreditable electioneering device 
should be resorted to. The matter subsequently found its way into print through 
no agency of mine or of the committee who had charge of the canvass. Never- 
theless the "independent" oracle said of me : " He has gone into the gutter to 
rake up an old police-story against his opponent". 

When I mildly reproached the gentlemen who had been instrumental in 
making me the leader of a forlorn hope, they comforted me with the suggestion 
that the registry might prove more favorable than the last. As soon as the 
books were closed it appeared that there was a falling oif in the small Republi- 
can portion of the district, and an increase in those parts that were 
overwhelmingly democratic. 

Well, Gentlemen, you all know what a swash of democratic victories swept 
over the country in 1874. There were so many of them that the enemy carried 
the House high and dry and were for the moment encouraged to believe that 
the long predicted "tidal wave" had really l)egun to flow at last. 

I was carried under with the rest, bnt 1 derived some little consolation 
from ascertaining that while the democratic majorities had increased almost 
everywhere, 1 had gained 225 votes on the preceding canvass, the majority 
against me being reduced from 2405 to 2180. The "independent" organ rose 
superior to anything to matter of fact as arithmetic, and invented a set of 
returns from every election district in the eleventh Assembly district. By this 
fine stroke of ingenuity they made a difference of 1145 votes against me, 
scoring up an adverse majority of 3325! And by the by this neat little piece 
of artfulness served an amu^ing purpose afterwards. One of the weekly papers 
which is especially notorious for gathering in all the floating fabrications that 
have run their course in the dailies, dressing them up in elaborate English, and 
palming theui off on credulous country readers as evidences of the pitiable 



decadence of virtue in tliis deo^encrate age, adopted it as the text of a 
chanicteristic lioniily. It accepted these manufactured returns as correct — with- 
out knowing of course the least thing about them — excepted the eleventh 
Congressional district on the strength of them for the time Iteing from its 
otherwise universal malediction upon mankind — and abused me savagely for 
having l^een "craven enough" — these were its very words — to allow my friend 
Mr. Schultz to publish the cards, which, as I have told you, I took so much 
pains to suppress. "There's richness for you"! 

I do not speak of these things now, on my own account. The annoyance 
and indignation they occasioned me, has long since passed away. I was very 
kindly and considerately treated by the best and most influential pa])ers in 
circulation among us. The misrepresentations of which I was the victim are 
probably no more glaring and offensive than a majority of candidates for office 
are subjected to. But such outrages upon decency can hardly fail to deter 
gentlemen possessing a reasonable degree of self-respect from consenting to 
become targets for lilackguaidism and mendacity. 

The effect of this indiscriminate detraction of candidates for office — whether 
originating in malice or ignorance — upon the rising generation is utterly 
demoralizing. The impression it makes is that public men are generally vicious 
and unprincipled ; that honesty is an old-fashioned and virtually obsolete 
quality; that anybody, w'ho is smart enough to keep outside the "den and 
forfeit of the law", may play the knave without stemming the popular current 
or incurring intolerable odium. Such a style of literature is doing more to 
coiTupt popular morals than all the yellow-covered novels and flash publications 
that ever found their way into circulation. 

I have made this chapter of autobiography longer than I intended, and 
have no doul)t you are glad it is finished. Recurring for a moment only to the 
theme assigned me, I take pleasure in saying that I respect and honor your 
guests because they have always been loyal and true to the grand old party 
which has held in its keeping the very life of the nation ; because they are not 
ashamed of it nor tired of it ; and I congratulate you upon its superb record, 
healthful condition and auspicious prospects." 

The president then introduced the eloquent Hon. Wm. A. Dakliistg, the 
"darling-" of the German Republicans — as the gentleman designated to answer 
the toast "Our recent victories". He spoke as follows : 

"Mr. President and Gentlemen of the German Republican Central 
Committee : 

I tender 3^ou my sincere thanks for your kind invitation to be present with 
you here to-night, and also for your kindly greeting. The occasion of this 
festive gathering afft)rds me the opportunity to testify tlie appreciation which is 
felt by all good citizens, of the great and good work accomi)lished by our 
German fiiends in the late election, whereby they contributed so largely in 
securing t)n our political battle-field the "recent victories". 

In responding to this toast, permit me to say, no one is more ready and 
willing than myself to give to them the full and merited meed of praise for 
their part in this victorv. My own personal efforts in the contest have given me 
many opportunities to tibserve and e.-timate the great value of such service — 
the zeal and self-sacrificing work for the redemption of our great and beautiful 
(but badly governed) city, as exhibited by our German lellow-citizens, has 
never been more signally displayed or more effective in its results, not only in 
the eastern portion of our City, so largely populated by citizens of German 
descent, heretofore giving lai'ge majoiities for Tammany ilall, which you have 



10 

completely revolntinnized, electing a Senator and three members of Assemblj'^, 
but also electing other members, in my own and other districts, and thereby 
contributing largely to the change in the political character of our State 
Legislature. In fact I may say, everywhere throughout the entire City and 
Count}' the same spirit was manifested, and the same glorious work accomplish- 
ed, and I trust and believe, your claims to a proper recognition will not be 
disregarded by the Republican party — an organization to which our German 
fellow citizens should rightfully and naturally belong. Your character, instincts, 
and every interest in common with good government, faithful execution of the 
laws, should prompt them to ally themselves with that noble party, with its 
noble record, and which has d(me so much for humanity. 

Your proverbial love of liberty, order and economical govenrment should 
ever be relied upon in upholding and protecting the institutions of a land 
of free men. 

Political victories have their counterpart in other beneficial triumphs; 
peace hath its victory as well as war, the victory of successful executive 
administration, produces the fruit of good government for all the people; there 
is the victory of Diplomac}', in which the silent but sagacious minister moulds 
the policy of nations for the nation's good. They are moral and social 
victories, which secure happiness and prosperity in our homes and in our inter- 
course with mankind, and there is yet another victory, and perhaps the greatest 
of all, because the most difficult of achievement, — and that is man's victory 
over himself. 

The German emigrant has peopled om* broad and fertile prairies, and where 
but yesterday was seen the scattered cabin of the pioneer settler, to-day we 
witness the crowded city, with its busy hum of prosperous traffic, edifices of 
learning and religion, whose spires pierce the skies, all the work and outgrowth 
of an honest, industrious and frugal people. We say then, to all the brothers 
of the "Vaterland'', come to us, and be of us, we welcome you to our broad 
fields that wait for yoiu- strong arms to cause them to blossom wiA wealth and 
happiness, living under the stan-y folds of our National banner, protected b}' its 
power, helping to develope the great resources of our land, and secure for your- 
selves and for generations yet unborn, the blessings of the best government 
the sun ever shone upon." 

To the seventh regular toast : ''The judiciary," Hon. Charles Goepp, in 
whose elevation to the bench the Gennan Republican Central Committee, of 
which he was a prominent member, felt highly honored, responded as follows: 

"Forgive me for confessing that I winced a little on being invited to 
respond, wdien the judiciary were to be "toasted". The wish that they may be 
"toasted" is frequently uttered in regard to the judiciary, or at least in regard 
to its honored members, for "swearing at the court" is, of all legal remedies the 
one most readily administered. The wish, that they may not only be toasted 
but may "respond" is an amplification of tliat remedy, for which the committee 
of arrangements have established a valuable precedent. Having lately read 
Longfellow's "Inferus", I have been mentally surveying the multitudes of the 
"toasted" there so vividly depicted, and recalling the "responses" which virtually 
constitute that magnificent poem, in search of some comfort, for the order of 
which the suffi-ages of an inclulgent people have made me an unworthy member, 
but in vain. The only member of the judiciary there mentioned appears to be 
Chief Justice Minos himself; and he, though being, as what judge is not, con- 
signed to the infernal regions, figures there not as toasted, but as toaster. His 
responses consist in curlings of his tail, indicating by the number of rings into 



11 

wliicli lie curls it, the number of tlie circle of liell to Mliicli tlie particular 
culprit before liiiu is coudeuined. My utter inability to emulate the Chief 
Justice in this particular, is to my uiiud another painful evidence of how much 
I fall short of the capacity recpiired for the grave responsibilities I have 
ventured to assume. The functions of Minos can never be mine; the best I 
can hope for is to share his abode. 

The judiciary then, aie toasted, l)ut hardly beloved. Tlu> public at large 
when brought into contact with the order, are apt to imitate Palmerston in one 
of the carricatures of Punch, when presented by Sir Colin C'ampbtdl with the 
Royal Bengal Tiger. The prime minister holds a chair between himself and 
the interesting captive, and says to the connnander-in-chief, *T am very much 
obliged to you, I'm sure, but what is to be done with the beast?" What Sir 
Colin Campbell did with the Tiger, is neither here nor there. But we all know 
what the opinion of mankind does with the judiciary, — as personified in the 
goddess, at whose shrine they are sujjposed to minister. It puts a sword into 
the right hand of justice, a balance into the left, and a liandage on both her 
eyes. Manifestly, l)ecause if not blindfolded, she might hit somebody with her 
sword, or detect some obliquity with her scales ; because, if relieved of her 
sword, she might use her hand to strij) off her bandage and keep her balance ; 
and because, if relieved of her balance, she might open her eyes and strike 
terror into evil-doers. 

This is what the world has done Avith the judiciary for two thousand years. 
A new fetter has been imposed in our country since the introduction of the 
Ballot box. In this country the judiciary are forbidden to talk. What is a 
man to talk about at a public dinner! Law? Minos and Rhadamanthos 
forbid. Even the imagination of Dante was impotent to conceive the number 
of ringlets in his tail by which the Chief Justice would have marked the doom 
of him who had dared to talk his fellow-man to death with law. What then? 
Public affairs ? l^ublic affairs constitute the domain of politics ; and it is the 
discovery of our modern wisdom, that the judiciary must let politics alone. 
Standing before the body politic in the attitude of a basin of clear water before 
a pair of dirty hands, they must shrink from those dirty hands for fear of 
muddling their crystal purity. Now, Mr. President, standing before your 
mind's eye with a sword in one hand, which I cannot see to lift, with a pair of 
scales in the other, by which I cannot see to weigh, with eyes blindfolded, lest 
I should l)e led astray by the magic of your presence, with my mouth gagged, 
lest I should corrupt my mind by discussing your affairs, how am I to respond, 
when the judiciary are toasted? Well, I may say that I see signs of the 
bandage being lifted, and the gag removed. Society has found, that keeping 
its hand dirtyhas not made clean water cleaner. The judges have not meddled 
with politics, but politics have undertaken to meddle with the judges, and we 
are here to-night because that attempt has been frustrated and rebuked. Some 
sort of connection between politics and honesty, in theory, has been detected, 
and it seems to be thought that that discovery should T)e reduced to practice at 
the cost even of bringing into action the judiciary, who are nothing more nor 
less than the organ of the conscience of the people. Possibly a time is at 
hand, when the voice of public conscience may be a little more welcome than 
the voice of Minos or Rhadamanthos. All these signs may prove deceptive, it 
does not become a judge to be sanguine. But this fact remains, that, for the 
first time in our history an election lias been held, in which the judicial offices 
principally engaged the attention of the voters, in which the leading issue con- 
cerned the independence of the judiciary, in which that independence was 
triumphantly vindicated, and in which the capacity of the people to appreciate 
that blessing was made manifest beyond all question. I pledge you, gentle- 



12 

men. The people of the City of New York ; may their servants be mindful of 
the spirit in which they have been chosen." 

In the absence of the oldest member of the Legislature, General 
HuSTED, the bald eagle of Westchester, the Hon. I. Albert Englehart, the 
youngest member, was announced to speak for that body. In presenting him 
the chair stated, that he would be bestowing the highest praise on him, when 
he assured the company that he would follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, 
the Hon. Jacob Hess. 

Mr. Englehart was greeted with cheers, and addressed the Assembly in 
a brilliant and earnest manner. 

The gallant Colonel of the Fifth, Hon. Charles S. Spencer, was 
assigned to speak in behalf of the ''Army and Xavy", but being unavoidably 
absent, sent a telegram which was read amid great applause. 

CTeneral Joseph C. Pinckney, distinguished for his services to the country 
and party, was called upon and spoke as follows : 

'• Mr. President : 

1 regret exceedingly that my honorable fiiend and soldier, who was 
designated by your Committee to respond to the toast of the Army and Navy, 
has found it impossibe to be present in consequence of business engagements, 
which have called him out of the city. If he was here he would be able to 
explain to you how we brought him over from the west side of the city to be 
our candidate for Congress in this the German district, and how he suffered an 
inglorious defeat in his first campaign. 

It is not necessary to say that 1 allude to the gallant Colonel of the Fifth 
Regiment. In his absence I have ))een suddenly called upon to fill his place, 
and I am compelled to admit that I feel myself illy prepared' to do so. If 
time would pennit, I might occupy hours in recounting the achievements of our 
Army and Navy. How John Paul Jones in the Bon liomme Richard captured 
the Serapis. This being one of the maiden effbrts of note of our infant navy, 
people abroad were jileased to denounce Captain Jones as a pirate. When Jones 
was called upon to surrender, he replied, " that he had not yet begun to fight". 
Coming down to the war of 1812 with Great Britain, the history of our navy 
is rei»lete with glorious victories. Grim old Hull with the Constitution captures 
the Guerriere, Decatur in the United States, takes the "gilt work off" the 
Macedonian and then he "takes her in". Who has not read of Perry's victory 
on Lake Erie and of his memorable dispatch reporting the action : " We have 
met the enemy and they are ours". 

Cany yourselves back to more recent actions, with which you are all 
familiar. The exploits of the little Monitor at Hampton Roads, of Captain 
Winslow in the Kearsage, and that of old Commodore Farragut in the shrouds 
of the Hartford at Mot)ile, with munerous others attest the glorious achieve- 
ments ef the American Navy. 

The Army is not less distinguished for bravery. Although not always 
successful, it has distinguished itself by its heroic struggles on many a bloody 
field. The tenacity of Washington, and the sufferings of the anny of the 
Revolution at Valley Forge, the victories achieved by a Scott at Chippewa and 
Landy's Lane, and the crowning ami decisive triumph of Gen. Andrew Jackson 
over the trained battalions of Great Britain at New Orleans, all these are 
remembered with exultation by every citizen of our Republic. 



13 

The war with ]\[exic(» in 1847 bvoufjht to the foremost ranks of modern 
chieftains a W infield Seott (ah-eady covered with f^hny in 1S14), a Taylor and 
a Worth, whose victories are read with delight by om- children. 

Come we now to the events of onr late civil war, which produced so many 
hitherto obscure men and placed I'oremost among the military chieftains of the 
age. With what a thrill of pleasure have we read of tlie terse sayings of 
Grant, who at Donelson says: "I demand an unconditional surrender, 1 propose 
to move immediately on your works"; or when remonstrated with for not 
accomplishing miracles in a day said: "I propose to fight it out on this line if 
it takes all summer!" 

Then see glorious Phil. Sheridan, who after his ride of twenty miles find- 
ing his array beaten, by his own energy snatched victory from the very jaws of 
defeat. Said he on seeing the scattered condition of his men: "Boys, we are 
going back to our camps. We are going to lick the enemy out of their boots," 
and if anybody says he didn't do it, he don't know what he is talking about." 

In conclusion General Pinckney recited : 

"GOD OF THE FREE." 

God of the free ! njwn thy breath 
Our Flag is still for right unfurled ! 
As broad and brave as when its stars 
First lit the darkness of the world. 

For Duty still its folds shall stream. 

For Honor all its glories burn. 

When Truth, Religion, Valor guard 

The patriots sword and martyrs urn. f 

No Tyrant's impious step is ours, 
No lust of power on natures rolled — 
Our Flag for fricmis a starry sky, 
For foes a storm in every fold. 

0, thus we'll keep the nation's life. 
Nor fear the bolt by despots hurled ; 
The blood of all the world is here, 
And they who strike us, strike the world ! 

Then still rear high thine Oak, North ! 
South wave answer with thy Palm ! 
All in our Union's heritage 
Together sing the Nation's psalm ! 

The toast "The Press" was answered by Dr. Immaxuel Auerbach, the 
able editor of the "New Yorker Demokrat", the only German Republican news- 
paper in the City of New York. 

In answer to the toast : "The Ladies", the soldier with the silver tongue — 
the handsomest man in the room, Col. Willard Bullard, responded in a 
most happy and eloquent strain". 



14 

Commissioners Stixer, Marshal and Disbeckeh, Postmaster James, 
Jacob M. Patterson, Jr., Marshal Fiske, Dr. Hermann Muhr, former 
president of the Committee, Frederick Schwedler and others therenpon 
addressed the Assembly, and at 3 o'clock in the morning this banqnet, which 
will ever remain a pleasant recollection to all who attended, was closed with 
three times three cheers for the President of the United States, the Republican 
Party, the invited guests and the officers of the Gennan Republican Central 
Committee. 



The following, among many other letters, were received : 

Utica, N. Y., Nov. 25th, 1875. 
Hon. A. J. DiTTENHOEFER, President. 

My dear Sir : 

Your telegram yesterday puzzled me, because nothing had reached me 
before to explain it. 

This morning however I have received, returned from Washington, an 
in\'itation to attend a proposed banquet by the Grennan Republican Central 
Committee. 

I beg you and the Committee to receive my thanks for this honor, and my 
warm assurance of interest in the occasion. 

Our German citizens not only in New York, but elsewhere, have shown 
that they are not indifferent or unwise observers of the cuiTent of public 
questions, which concern them as nearly as any portion of our people. In Ohio 
and in other States, as well as in this State, the action of Gennan sentiment 
and Gennan votes has been most timely and valuable in advancing the cause 
of honest government, of sound financial principle, of free education and true 
progress. No one knows or feels this more than I, and my best wishes attend 
your proposed celebration, and all else of interest to Gennan Americans. 

The time is so near when I must set out for the session, that 1 am greatly 
pressed by matters requiring attention, and may not be able to be present on 
the day not yet fixed when the banquet will occur, but in spirit and in truth I 
shall be with you. 

Cordially, your obedient sei^vant, 

ROSCOE CONKLING. 



Western Union Telegraph Company, 

Vice-President's Office. 

New York, Nov. 23d, 1875. 
Hon. A. J. DiTTEXHOEFER, President. 

My dear Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your cordial 
invitation to partake of the hospitality of the German Republican Central 
Connnittee, at a banquet to-moiTow evening to celebrate the victories achieved 
by the Republican party in the recent State elections, and regret that recent 
domestic affliction will prelude my acxieptance on the Committee's courtesJ^ 

The very general approval of the principles of the Republican party, by 
the 'people in the several states, which have recently recorded the current of 



15 

public opinion throuo-li the ballot-box, is a matter of sincere congTatulation Tor 
all -who cherisli those principles; not only in tho satisfaction which we enjoy at 
desirable resnlts accomj^lished, but as well in the promise it i^ives of the certain 
success of the party, if its ])rinciples are fairly presented for approval to the 
people of tho Nation at the Presidential election next year. 

The Gennan Ivepublican Central Committee has a i'ii>-ht to rejoice at the 
success of the Republican party this year, for the reason that the Gennans have 
contnbuted largely to this result. Wherever the (Tcrnian element al>()unds, the 
more decided has been the success of the Republican party. Cincinnati, Cleve- 
land, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Poughkeepsie, and the German 
wards of New York and Brooklyn attest the truth of this assertion. 

The devotion of the German American citizens to the improvement of tlie 
financial interests of the country ])y steadfast endeavors toward the earliest 
practicable resumption of specie payments and the protection of our noble fi'ee 
school system from all sectarian influences, is alike creditable to them and 
encouraging to the party, which has incorporated these principles into its 
political creed. 

Yours very respectfully, 

Aloxzo B. Cornell. 



Peekskill, Nov. 1875. 

Hon. A. J. DiTTENHOEFER, 

Pres. Gennan Repirblican Central Committee, 
New York City. 
Dear Sir ! 
I am in receipt of your very polite invitation to be present at the Gennan 
banquet to celebrate the victories so gallantly won in the late political contest. 
1 greatly regret that engagements of an imperative nature will preclude 
the possibility of my being one of your guests on that occasion, l)ut in being 
thus compelled to decline, pennit me to express my high appreciation of the 
services rendered by the Germans of New York to the Republican party 
of that city. 

Trasting and believing that such measures will be adopted as will not only 
conduce to the best interests of our Gennan fellow-citizens, but will also 
strengthen them in their convictions, that their true political course is to stand 
firmly and forever side by side with the party of liberty and progress. 
I am very sincerely yours, 

Jas. W. Husted. 



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